Endless enthusiasm: Western's Jenn Hall

Varsity athletes are among the most dedicated people on campus, and Mustang swim team co-captain Jenn Hall exemplifies that dedication.

As a triathlete, Hall is no stranger to the hard work required to succeed in university athletics.

"It's my life," Hall says. "Without athletics, I wouldn't even know what to do with myself."

When Hall came to Western to study kinesiology, she hoped to continue training as a triathlete. However, upon arriving at Western, Hall tapped into her passion for one of the triathlon components and joined the Mustangs swim team.

"She came to us as a pretty serious triathlete," says Western swim team head coach Paul Midgely. "So she started swimming with us and transferred her main priority [to swimming]."

Hall is now in her fourth year competing with Western's swim team and is co-captain of the women's squad.

"It's very demanding," Hall says. "But it pays off in the end. It's so rewarding to be able to represent your university."

Hall's enthusiasm for Mustangs swimming is unmistakable to her teammates.

"Her strongest quality is her ability to socialize with everyone on the team," says co-captain Melissa Tobros. "This year, I find the team is a lot more united than it has been in the past."

The swim team is still riding high from its recent victory at divisional championships. Hall has high hopes for the Ontario University Athletics championships in February.

"Everyone's doing really well," Hall says. "We definitely have a good chance; the team is really strong this year."

"It's an individual sport," Tobros says. "But a united team is what makes it fun and what makes it worth coming to practice nine times a week."

As swim team co-captain, an honours student and a sorority member, Hall knows juggling different commitments is challenging.

"It's just something you get used to," Hall explains. "You get stronger and learn to deal with your life.

"People are always saying ‘I don't know how you do it.' I'm like, ‘I don't know how you don't.' I love it."

During the summer Hall trains for and participates in countless triathlons. Immediately after finals in April, Hall begins a more concentrated preparation at a triathlon training camp.

"That's all I do in the summer," she says. "We train about six or seven hours a day."

Despite sometimes suffering inconvenient injuries, Hall pushes through her training for the nationals. She's comfortable with the strenuous workouts and obscene hours clocked every day of her summer "vacation."

"You'd think it would be so hard, but when you're doing it you just know you can get through it. It's amazing. It's a great sport to be involved in; I would recommend it to anyone."

Hall's competed in the Junior Worlds in New Zealand in the past and plans to continue making waves throughout the athletics scene. Her next goal is qualifying for the Under 23 triathlon Worlds next year.

With a supportive family and a world of training experience, Hall looks forward to the possibility of becoming a professional triathlete.

"Provided I can stay injury free...I hope to race on the International Triathlon Union circuit," Hall explains. "I'd like to see how far I can get with that."

No matter what Hall tackles next, her passion for athletics will keep her competing at Western and beyond.

"I'll never stop training," Hall says. "I don't ever want to stop running or cycling or swimming. I can't imagine living without doing it every day."

Author:Gazette Staff

Trashy Buffalo really should clean up its act

I've never been a Buffalo Bills fan, but after attending a Bills game at Ralph Wilson Stadium last weekend, I have a newfound respect for the franchise and its fans.

Being in Buffalo, New York for the NFL game, it also became clear why Bills fans are so commendable.

Their city is trashy.

When I arrived at the stadium, the tailgating was intense. My buddies and I tossed a football around the parking lot, threw sausages and hamburgers on the sizzling grill and cracked a plethora of icy beers. The most refreshing part about that (and this is saying a lot - it's hard to top an ice-cold Molson Canadian) was everyone around us did the same. New Yorkers and Canadians alike slammed beers, blasted tunes and stuffed their faces with a myriad of delicacies.

I was especially impressed by the spirit of Buffalo Bills fans, even when their team is mediocre at best. Driving around the area, though, I realized why there is so much gusto involving the football team.

I decided it has something to do with the fact that the city of Buffalo is uglier than the "breathtaking" baby from Seinfeld. There was trash everywhere, each and every warehouse and industrial building looked like it was either a set for a 1920s gangster flick or an inconspicuous meth lab, and the streets were completely abandoned.

My crew and I stopped at the Anchor Bar, a throwback joint, for some original Buffalo chicken wings. It was pretty popular, but apart from that, we literally could have been driving through a ghost town.

Buffalo has some strong points, most of them sports-related. For what the Bills lack in talent, they make up in fan dedication and cold-weather toughness. The Buffalo Sabres are probably the most exciting team in hockey right now, and they play in the decent HSBC Arena. The University of Buffalo is a Division One NCAA football team. Given Buffalo's size (slightly smaller than London), these are all remarkable assets.

However, if Buffalo wants more attention, more fans, or more residents, it should rejuvenate the downtown area. Sure, you can't expect a working-class town to be rich and cosmopolitan, but it should have something better to offer than potholes and a Citgo gas station.

Author:Gazette Staff

Something to watch come the holidays

I SEE WHY EVERYONE IN HOG TOWN STICKS TO HOCKEY. Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo (pictured left) is trying to build a duplicate of the Phoenix Suns up north, but there are definitely some early season headaches.

The holidays are a great time to catch up on invaluable TV viewing.

If you're a sports fan, you're always looking for your next fix, whether it's hockey, the NFL, or college football bowl-game action. Here's a compilation of games and events you'll want to open a bag of chips, crack a cold beverage and park your expanding ass for.

New York Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (CBC)Saturday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m.The Rangers travel to the Air Canada Centre to take on the Buds in what will be a good measuring stick for where the Leafs really stand in the Eastern Conference. New York sniper Jaromir Jagr has been on a torrid pace lately, and Toronto must slow him down to have a chance. Leafs forward Darcy Tucker has about 900 power-play goals this season, and a sharp effort from him will help send the Rangers back crying to the Statue of Liberty.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts (TSN)Monday, Dec. 18, 8:30 p.m.This should be an instant-classic AFC match-up. The AFC leaps and bounds better than the NFC - so much that it's like watching a CFL team play in the Brescia Bowl. Two polished passers will light the scoreboard (Cincy's Carson Palmer and Indy's Peyton Manning), but expect Indy to torch its striped counterparts in the friendly confines of the RCA Dome.

Toronto Raptors vs. Phoenix Suns (TSN)Tuesday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo made his mark in the desert, and at the very least you can expect astronomical scoring totals from two teams that like to run and gun, even if defensively they couldn't stop Ethel and Wilhemena at the retirement community. Although it'd be nice to be optimistic, would you take T.J. Ford over Steve Nash?

USC Trojans vs. Michigan Wolverines (Rose Bowl) (ABC)Monday, Jan. 1, 2007, 5 p.m.The Michigan Wolverines and their rabid fans were left out of the National Championship picture despite a phenomenal season, left feeling like the Grade 7 kid standing against the wall because he didn't get asked to dance. This still should be a marquee match-up; a wicked pissah defence and top running back Mike Hart tip the balance in the maize and blue's favour.

Florida Gators vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (National Championship) (FOX)Monday, Jan. 8, 8 p.m.Yes, this is the day students return from the holidays. Although most would view that as a monumental buzz-kill, this blood-match should at least ease the transition. Some critics think the Gators slighted the Wolverines in the title bid, but that's the nature of the wonky Bowl Championship Series setup. Florida pivot Chris Leak and his wimpy spread-option offence will have a tall order in stopping likely Heisman-winner quarterback Troy Smith and freshman running back Chris Wells, who must put performance enhancers in his Count Chocula.

Frustrated? Pissed off at the world? More accurately, are you pissed off about our endless goofiness? Write in and let us know about it. Send your letters to gazette.sports@uwo.ca. Gazette Sports has the right to edit any submissions.

How the hell did soccer get overlooked when you were writing the article for Friday's paper: "Gazette Sports' mid-year report card?" In my four years as a varsity soccer player at Western, our team has won [Ontario University Athletics] gold three times, including this year, and one bronze medal. This year we had six OUA first team all-stars including the West conference MVP and first team all-Canadian. Six OUA all-stars is the most one team can have; that's all our coaching staff is allowed to nominate.

Furthermore, we played well at nationals and only got knocked out of medal contention because we lost in a shootout to Alberta, whichwent on to win gold. We won our two consolation games with ease to finish fifth in the country.

And let's not forget the women's team, which is always a strong squad. They finished one place short of a nationals berth and they also had the OUA West MVP and first team all-Canadian Jenna Byrne, along with four other OUA all-stars.

There is no reason the Western soccer teams shouldn't be recognized for this year's accomplishments and it's not because soccer is an unknown sport. Soccer is arguably the most popular sport in the world. The Western soccer teams are sick and tired of being under-appreciated and we deserve some recognition.
- Adam LeggWestern men's team captain

Ed Note: You got us, Adam. There's no reason you guys should have been left out of the story, especially with the soccer teams' great track record as of late. We're sorry for overlooking you guys; great work this year and good luck in the future. As a result of our gaffe, we don't mind eating a big old slice of humble pie.

Author:Gazette Staff

Hockey pool update: Jagr, Hossa still tops

THE SWEDES DO THINGS WELL OTHER THAN VOLVOS? Daniel and Henrik Sedin (below) and Mats Sundin all have Viking blood, and they're all making an impact in the NHL lately.